Osteospermum plant named ‘SUNOST1704’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘SUNOST1704’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth rate; freely branching growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescences with deep red-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNOST1704’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SUNOST1704’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of the program is to create and develop new Osteospermum plants with compact and uniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractive ray and disc floret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1302’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,428. The new Osteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant of ‘SUNOST1302’ within a population of plants of ‘SUNOST1302’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark in May, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark since October, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SUNOST1704’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUNOST1704’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright to outwardly spreading and         mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Daisy-type inflorescences with deep red-colored ray florets.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent, ‘SUNOST1302’, primarily in ray floret color as plants of ‘SUNOST1302’ have purple and red purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1202’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Osteospermum differ from plants of ‘SUNOST1202’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more outwardly spreading         than and not upright as plants of ‘SUNOST1202’.     -   2. The lower surface of the ray florets of plants of the new         Osteospermum are darker red in color than the lower surface of         the ray florets of plants of ‘SUNOST1202’.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Osteospermum have larger         discs than inflorescences of plants of ‘SUNOST1202’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SUNOST1704’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘SUNOST1704’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 11-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Odense, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1704’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Osteospermum     ecklonis ‘SUNOST1302’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,428. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 28 days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             whitish in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright to             outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; inflorescences             positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on moderately             strong peduncles; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 14             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 17.3             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 28.3 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit             with about four primary branches developing per plant,             primary branches each with about seven secondary branches;             pinching enhances branching potential. Length: About 7.4 cm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 5.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Primary branches, about             20° to 60° from vertical; secondary branches about 40° from             primary branch axis. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;             slightly glossy. Color, developing: Close to 145B to 145C.             Color, fully developed: Close to 144B to 144C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; sessile.             Length: About 7.4 cm. Width: About 3.9 cm. Shape: Runcinate.             Apex: Obtuse to bluntly acute. Base: Long attenuate. Margin:             Shallow to medium and divergent lobes. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Rough, moderately pubescent; slightly glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Rough, moderately             pubescent; matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker than 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation,             close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137B; venation, close to 144C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with             obovate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences terminal and             axillary and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on             moderately strong peduncles; disc and ray florets developing             acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face mostly             upright.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 80             inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—In Denmark, plants of the new             Osteospermum flower continuously from autumn into the             winter; plants begin flowering about ten to twelve weeks             after pinching.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences of plants of the new             Osteospermum last about ten days on the plant;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Broadly elliptic. Texture and luster:             Immature ray florets, smooth and glabrous; involucral             bracts, moderately pubescent; matte. Color: Immature ray             florets, close to 153D and 154A; involucral bracts, close to             138A and 138B.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.7 cm. Depth (height):             About 1.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.4 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Diameter: About 3 mm. Height: About 2.5 mm.             Shape: Broadly rhomboidal. Color: Close to 145C to 145D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 24 ray florets arranged in about two whorls. Length:             About 2.7 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Obovate; moderately             carinate. Apex: Shallowly praemorse. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Aspect: Slightly upright; slightly to             moderately reflexed. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; moderately             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 59C;             towards the apex, close to 31A to 31B. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 59C; towards the apex, close to 22B and             31B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 53A and between             53A and 53B; towards the base, close to 59A and 59B;             venation, similar to lamina color; with development color             becoming closer to slightly darker than 53A with stripes,             close to 187A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 46A,             183A and 185A; venation, similar to lamina color; with             development color becoming closer to slightly darker than             53A with stripes, close to 187A.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 80 disc florets spirally arranged in about five whorls             at the center of the receptacle. Length: About 8 mm.             Diameter, apex: About 4 mm. Diameter, base: About 1 mm.             Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, immature, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to             184C. Mid-section: Close to N148C to N148D. Base: Close to             156D. Color, mature, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close             to 185C. Mid-section: Close to 186D. Base: Close to 185C.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 20 phyllaries arranged in about two whorls. Length:             About 1.2 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent;             matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 138B; towards the             apex, close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6.2 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2.5 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 6.9 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             2.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect, terminal             peduncle: Mostly upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 35°             from lateral branch axis. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to NN155B; distally,             tinged with close to 185C and 185D. Anther shape: Narrowly             oblong. Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to             darker than 200A. Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant.             Pollen color: Close to 23A. Gynoecium: Present on disc             florets only. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma diameter:             About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma color: Close to             between 200A and 203A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style             color: Close to NN155B. Ovary color: Close to 157C to 157D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Osteospermum to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Osteospermum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     high temperatures about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 9 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘SUNOST1704’ as illustrated and described. 